'I'm not trying to be Superman'

FOXBORO -- He speaks about those two fumbles late last season in much the same way as he speaks about those 125 rushing yards in the 2012 season-opener this past Sunday in Tennessee.

"It's in the past," says Stevan Ridley.

On Wednesday, Ridley was living only in each moment of preparation for the Patriots' home-opener this coming Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals -- a 1-0 team that Patriots coach Bill Belichick is softening with lofty praise he hopes his 1-0 team believes enough to harden itself against complacency.

Ridley's 125 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries in the Patriots' 34-13 victory over the Titans was a tough business turning to a new set of legs. After four seasons in New England -- the last two as the team's leading rusher -- BenJarvus Green-Ellis signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as a free agent during the off-season.

The Patriots prepared for such a business transaction by selecting running backs Shane Vereen from California in the second round and Ridley from LSU in the third round of the 2011 draft.

While Vereen's 2011 rookie season was one big sore hamstring, Ridley established himself as Green-Ellis' most likely successor, averaging 5.1 yards a carry while gaining 441 yards.

Unlike the dependable take-what-the-defense-gives Green-Ellis, the 5-foot-11, 220-pound Ridley can slip tackles, though he still prefers to "deliver the blow instead of taking the hit.

Advertisement

" His ceiling is higher than Green-Ellis'.

But unlike Ridley, Green-Ellis never fumbled as a Patriot.

Last season Ridley fumbled in the regular-season finale against Buffalo and again two weeks later in the AFC divisional round playoff against Denver. He was then inactive for the AFC championship game against Baltimore.

"Being sat down in the AFC championship pretty much was a lesson learned for me," said Ridley, who then suited up but did not play against the Giants in the Super Bowl.

Ridley said he hopes he has fumbled for the last time, "but what are the chances of that?"

"For me, I can't soak on the bad, and I can't sit on the good," said Ridley, who was very good against Tennessee. "It's just to continue working, and keep your nose down, and you grind it out ... and hold the ball high and tight."

"He looked like a good young running back to me," Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said after watching film of Ridley's performance against the Titans. "He made some good cuts, saw the field well. They did a nice job of blocking for him. He was impressive."

One productive game by a second-year running back hardly signals a new offensive direction for the Patriots. But those who have Tom Brady as their fantasy football quarterback have reason to be nervous about Ridley. Nineteen quarterbacks in Week One threw the ball more -- and for more yardage -- than did Brady, who was 23 for 31 for 236 yards and two touchdowns. In only two games last season did Brady throw fewer than 31 passes. He averaged 38.2 passes per game.

The Patriots' well-balanced season-opening victory in Tennessee provided little to quibble about, so a manufactured media issue is whether Wes Welker's role in the offense is being greatly diminished.

Welker, who over the past five seasons led the NFL with 554 receptions, was targeted only five times against Tennessee and had three receptions for 14 yards.

"There are different opportunities on different weeks for different players," said Brady, gearing up for the long haul. "The thing that is important to remember is it's a 16-game season, so you start getting up there and play 600 or 700 plays every year, and when you need it most, you have to be fresh. I think that goes for all of us."

Against the Titans, the Patriots had 35 rushing attempts for 165 yards. Last season the Patriots in two games ran the ball 35 times, in two others ran it a season-high 36 times. They averaged 27.4 rushing attempts.

Ridley said of his anticipated workload, "It's not my call. If (the run) is working, I'm sure coach is going to continue to call the plays. And that's what he did this past Sunday.

"For me, I just try to do my job," said Ridley. "I'm not trying to be Superman or anything."

Welcome to your discussion forum: Sign in with a Disqus account or your social networking account for your comment to be posted immediately, provided it meets the guidelines. (READ HOW.)
Comments made here are the sole responsibility of the person posting them; these comments do not reflect the opinion of The Sun. So keep it civil.